Residents oppose proposal for cafe in bio-diversity park

Residents of Gurgaon want the bio-diversity park to be preserved in its pristine natural condition and want that the proposed Interpretation Centre be developed in a non-intrusive way if it at all comes up.

The interpretation centre and cafe are proposed to be built inside the bio-diversity park in Gurgaon.(HT FILE PHOTO)

Residents of Gurgaon want the bio-diversity park to be preserved in its pristine natural condition and want that the proposed Interpretation Centre be developed in a non-intrusive way if it at all comes up.

The Interpretation Centre and cafe are proposed to be built by Future Institute on behalf of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG).

It includes the development of a 2,500 sq ft Interpretation Centre and a 1,200 sq ft cafe in the park. The proposal for the same was posted on the MCG’s website and it had invited feedback from the citizens.

As per the feedback received by the MCG, a majority of the people consider the project, especially the cafe, a step towards commercialisation of the bio-diversity park. Most of the citizens, whose names have been withheld, want the park to remain in its natural way.

The park also attracts many rare birds, some of which were spotted after decades, thanks to the restoration and the residents fear that any kind of construction that attracts a lot of crowd would damage the ecosystem.

“We do not have anything against the Interpretation Centre. However, we do not approve of a cafe opening up in the park. Environmentalists and bird-watchers have repeatedly said that a cafe would impact the wildlife of the region, especially the bird population,” said Latika Thukral of I Am Gurgaon.

The Aravali Bio-Diversity Park is one of the biggest projects undertaken by I Am Gurgaon and is maintained by the organisation.

City residents have said that the proposed Interpretation Centre should be non-intrusive, eco-friendly and a part of the natural landscape.

Senior officials of the MCG said that they will conaider the feedback that was received on the website.